My mother is going to make me start paying rent when I turn 21.

Why do I feel like a prat when I actually volunteered to pay rent myself?

 

You might want to negotiate something first and foremost.
Parents tend to have this idea that all jobs are high paying jobs and when you reach 21 people suddenly want to start hiring you.
Just make sure what you're paying is reasonable considering your age and what you're doing.

 

I don't pay rent at home but I live away for half the year at university where I do have to pay for accommodation. I don't have a job either, I'm living off my student loan. I think if I had a proper job and I wasn't at university, I might be expected to pay something.

 

Well, what are you doing with your life right now? Going to school? Working? Looking for work?

Actually, my question to most of you is, what are you guys doing to validate whether or not you deserve to pay for rent at your parents' place?

As for me, I'll be going away for college for the next 7 years (it's a doctorate program), and I'm pretty sure my dad is cool with me not paying rent if I'm only home on holidays, the summer and if I'm doing something with my life.

 

Dang man. I pay all my own bills and share my internet with the house hold and still need to pay... I dont know what all my mom needs. She has an iphone and my moms BF pays for hers and my brothers phone bills... I dont even have a phone of my own yet.

 

So I actually showed my mother this thread and
She has said she might consider the '15% of my salary' idea.

I am le pleased. <3

 

Except she buys food.

 

My parents have a similar system. They get 20% of my paycheck, half of which I get back when I move out. If my calculations are correct, 20% of $0 per month is $0 per month.

 

I am currently at college to get a master's degree (is a bit different from what you guys have at US).
Since I was 18 I was at college doing my major at biology , just now I am finally being paid at a "university apprenticeship" (don't really know how it is in US, but basicaly doing my research gives me some money, is not A LOT , but is way better than the minimum wage (almost twice as much!).
The best colleges in Brazil are also public, so there is no tuition to pay.
My parents always gave me money to rent an apartament + food and stuff, now that I receive money they still got the rent , but I pay all my other bills (food, eletricity, internet,etc..).
I guess the rent thing is a good Idea to make us feel responsible and value the things we have, at the same time is getting harder to find proper jobs nowadays.